Which NSCLC stage commonly involves adjuvant therapy after surgery?

Which NSCLC stage commonly involves adjuvant therapy after surgery?

• A. Stage IIB/IIIA
• B. Stage I
• C. Stage IIIB
• D. Stage IV

Answer: (A)

Adjuvant therapy after surgery is given to kill microscopic disease left behind and reduce recurrence risk. It is most commonly used when NSCLC has progressed to stage IIB or IIIA, where there is nodal involvement or a larger primary tumor. In these stages, a platinum-based chemotherapy course after complete tumor resection has been shown to improve survival, addressing micrometastatic spread that surgery alone cannot remove. Stage I tumors are typically cured by surgery alone, so adjuvant therapy isn’t routinely needed. Stage IIIB is usually not treated with upfront surgery and is managed with chemoradiation when unresectable or for locally advanced disease. Stage IV involves distant metastases and is treated systemically rather than with adjuvant therapy after a curative resection.

Adjuvant therapy after surgery is given to kill microscopic disease left behind and reduce recurrence risk. It is most commonly used when NSCLC has progressed to stage IIB or IIIA, where there is nodal involvement or a larger primary tumor. In these stages, a platinum-based chemotherapy course after complete tumor resection has been shown to improve survival, addressing micrometastatic spread that surgery alone cannot remove.

Stage I tumors are typically cured by surgery alone, so adjuvant therapy isn’t routinely needed. Stage IIIB is usually not treated with upfront surgery and is managed with chemoradiation when unresectable or for locally advanced disease. Stage IV involves distant metastases and is treated systemically rather than with adjuvant therapy after a curative resection.